Shawnee Backpack Trail West Loop
Trails Ohio Shawnee Backpack Trail West Loop
Ohio · adams County

Shawnee Backpack Trail West Loop

Long strenuous loop with sustained elevation and remote backcountry feel.

Rating
Length
19.0 mi
Difficulty
7
County
adams

About This Trail

A grueling 19-mile loop through the most rugged terrain in Shawnee State Forest, with options to extend to 28 or even 50 miles via the Wilderness Side Trail and connector routes. Some of Ohio’s most difficult hiking, with sustained 400-foot elevation swings across remote ridgelines in the state’s largest contiguous forest.

Location

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Coordinates: 38.6408, -83.2292

Getting There

From Portsmouth, take US-52 west to OH-125 west. In 6.6 miles, turn left into Shawnee State Park. The Backpack Trailhead parking is immediately on the right. The West Loop shares the same trailhead.

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